Cairo

Egypt’s capital city is found in the north of the country, sprawled out across both sides of the mighty River Nile as it makes its way to the Mediterranean Sea. A traditionally bustling African capital, Cairo juxtaposes the ancient and the modern, with the ancient sites of the Great Sphynx and Pyramids of Giza sitting against the backdrop of modern highrise buildings, narrow streets and seemingly endless tracts of housing. Visitors who choose to spend a few days here at the start of the trip will be amply rewarded, with the chance to visit the aforementioned ancient historical sites, as well as the Grand Egyptian Museum, ancient bazaars and significant Islamic art and heritage sites. There are plenty of excellent places to stay across the city, with a number of renowned international hotel chains boasting superb locations on the banks of the Nile. As the start and end point for all trips to Egypt, we generally recommend spending two nights in Cairo at the start of a trip and then, depending on flight departure times, one night at the end.